The new CM 200 Automation Module embeds the Control4® Operating System into the MDC product family enabling each component to function as the core of a Control4® smart home, controlling not only AV but lighting, climate control, security systems and much more.NAD will become a Control4 Licensee, and the CM 200 is its first product with Control4® IQ.

Developed exclusively by NAD, MDC greatly improves product performance, functionality and ease of use, while protecting products against premature obsolescence. It also simplifies product servicing, and enables NAD to more quickly bring to market new “advanced technology” features like the Control4® Operating System.

MDC places the signal processing sections of select, high-value components on replaceable plug-in modules.MDC is featured on NAD’s T 785, T 775, T 765 AV Receivers, its T 175 Preamp-Tuner-Processor, and on its Masters Series M15HD Preamplifier. Installers can also upgrade existing models with MDC capability to add new features and functionality. NAD is already shipping four MDC modules — the VM 100, VM 200, AM 100 and AM 200 — that offer enhanced video and audio performance.

The new CM 200 Automation Module Powered with Control4® IQ adds home automation to the MDC feature list. It simplifies control and enables consumer electronics products to smoothly and easily work together. The module replaces NAD’s standard Component Video Module, which included 3 inputs and 1 output. The CM 200 retains 1 input and 1 output for Component Video and adds 1 Ethernet port, 2 USB ports, 2 infrared inputs, 2 IR outputs, and a ZigBee antenna. This allows integration and control of the entire ecosystem of Control4® Certified devices.

The high level of integration means the Control4 Operating System will become part of the NAD AV Receivers’ On Screen Display (OSD) system, raising it to a new ease of operation. Users can operate Control4-enabled devices without interrupting favorite shows or movies, or switching inputs. “The tight integration of Control4® technology with NAD’s own Modular Design Construction is a win-win for customers and installers alike,” said Greg Stidsen, NAD Director of Product Planning. “It allows the AV Receiver to become the primary control point for the connected home.”

MDC AV Receivers that include the CM 200 qualify for the Control4 designation, which means the Control4’s core Operating System technology is seamlessly embedded into the receiver, enabling it to also function as a home controller. This allows other consumer electronics and systems in the home to easily work together, which enhances the operation and efficiency of applications such as home theaters, multi-room music, smart lighting, temperature control, and security.

NAD’s CM 200 Automation Module is expected to be available early next year at a price still to be determined. The MDC-equipped AV Receivers and processors can be seen with NAD’s other outstanding products during CEDIA Expo at Booth 2926, Georgia Congress Center.

SECRETS of Home Theater and High Fidelity was launched in 1994 as the first major publication offering serious audio/video journalism on the Internet.

Our magazine, which began with the publication of the SECRETS Primer, is available exclusively on-line and offers to our readers an extensive information resource about home theater and high-end audio.